Photo of UC Davis staff talking outdoors.

2019 UC Staff Engagement Survey: Extended Until June 14

On Monday, May 13, a sample of non-represented staff received an email invitation to participate in the UC Staff Engagement Survey, created by the Council of UC Staff Assemblies (CUCSA).

Screenshot of survey invitation.
Email invitation sent May 13 to sample of non-represented staff. For help accessing the survey, please email Willis Towers Watson at EmployeeSurveySupport@willistowerswatson.com.

A sample of UC Davis non-represented staff received a survey invitation (reminders sent May 29 and June 3) from survey administrator Willis Towers Watson, where they can provide valuable information about their experiences, needs and impressions working for UC Davis.

Roughly 20,000 staff across UC are invited to participate in the survey, which is completely confidential, meaning personally identifying information will not be shared with UC Davis or UC.

"We greatly value the direct feedback from individual staff, which can help shape how we all work at UC Davis," wrote Chief Human Resources Officer Christine Lovely and Acting Staff Assembly Chair Paul Cody, in an email encouraging invitees to complete the survey. "There is always room for improvement and we appreciate your help identifying areas to improve the staff experience."

Please visit the Staff Assembly website for information on the 2017 UC Staff Engagement Survey, including the 2017 Survey Results & Questions (.pdf) 

Frequently Asked Questions

General

  • What’s going on?
  • Beginning May 13, University of California will initiate its 4th systemwide Staff Engagement Survey. The survey was developed by the Council of University of California Staff Assemblies (CUCSA) in collaboration with Systemwide Human Resources’ Employee Relations department and Willis Towers Watson, a firm conducting the survey on UC’s behalf.
  • Why does University of California conduct this survey?
  • University of California wants to create and sustain a work environment that enables staff to fully contribute to our mission of excellence in teaching, research, and public service. The employee opinions gathered through the survey help the organization assess the level of involvement, commitment and satisfaction staff feel toward their work. Conducting the survey every few years enables us to identify positive trends and opportunities for improvement. The last UC Staff Engagement Survey was conducted in 2017.
  • Who is eligible to take the survey?
  • Randomly selected policy-covered staff, who joined the organization on or before June 1, 2018, will receive an email from Willis Towers Watson with an invitation to take the survey. Union-represented employees will not participate in the survey because UC receives their feedback through their union representatives during the collective bargaining process.
  • How are the results valid, if all employees aren’t surveyed?
  • The random sample of 64% employees is proven to be statically sound, meaning that the maximum margin of error will be within accepted boundaries for survey research (+/- 5% or less). In addition, while it would be nice to ask all participants to participate, it would be cost prohibitive to do so.
  • If I am randomly selected, am I required to take the survey?
  • No. The survey is voluntary, but we encourage you to participate because it will help the organization make improvements based on your input.
  • Are my survey answers confidential?
  • Yes. Under no circumstances will anyone within this organization see your individual responses. All responses are reported “blind” - without employee names attached to them. Ensuring confidentiality is another reason an outside firm was hired to administer the survey.
  • If you are not randomly selected, how can you express your opinions?
  • If you are not selected to complete the survey, you can participate in future action planning and survey-related activities [at your location] that will occur following the survey. Your thoughts and views are still important and appreciated. We also encourage you to reach out to our local Staff Assembly to get information regarding post-survey efforts or to provide input that will help them plan staff activities and communication.
  • When will the survey be held?
  • The survey opens on Monday, May 13 and closes at 11:59 p.m. on Friday, June 7th.
  • When will the survey results be available?
  • UC senior leadership will receive results by late June, 2019. Then, they will be communicated through subsequent layers of the organization. This give each level of leadership a chance to consider how they might address concerns or celebrate achievements. The survey results will be more broadly communicated in August/September.
  • How do we use the results of the survey?
  • We use feedback to strategically guide managers’ action plans, including setting goals. UC campuses and locations should review survey results with staff within 30 days of receiving them - and to engage their staff in action planning immediately afterward.
  • Is the survey available in other languages?
  • Currently, the survey is in English.

Assistance with the Survey